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Papaya Sunrise Green Smoothie

I officially don’t own flip flops.

This is a big deal. I live in California. It’s like a state requirement. At any moment the California police are probably going to walk into my house and take me away. I’ll be forced to explain to them that it’s not my fault that I am wearing shoes and socks in 90 degree heat. I will sell out the dog and explain that she has officially chewed up every pair of (expensive) flip flops that I own. They will arrest both of us. We will end up in the same Women’s Correctional Facility. Emma will make my life hell and I will be labeled a “snitch” for ratting her out. She will chew up all of my bath slippers and I will be forced to shower without flip flops. I hear that’s a no go in prison. I’ve clearly been watching too much Orange is the New Black. Like, whoa. Prison tangent. Normal for a Tuesday.

My point is (if there is one), it totally sucks to wake up on a Monday morning and discover that both your Reef sandals and your husbands Rainbow sandals have been reduced to leathery spit balls. At the rate we are going, I will be shoeless by August. I will be relegated to digging in my closet to find the one pair of forgotten shoes that I can strap onto my feet. Is it going to be my ugg-style cat boots (highly misguided fashion choice) or will it be the slightly furry Birkenstock clogs that I obtained for free by Christmas caroling at the Birkenstock factory in 2001? Both choices sound pretty solid. Help.

One day, in my teaching years, I found myself wearing the aforementioned Birkenstock clogs to class. I was informed by a six year old that it looked like I was wearing a couple of sea otters on my feet. I think I replied with a simple, “They are.” Gotta keep ’em guessing.

So, what does any of this have to do with smoothies and papayas and sunrises? Nothing I’m sure I can come up with something. Bare with me… Okay, so warm climates call for flip flops (of which, I have none) and warm climates also call for fruity drinks, preferably something that has a chunk of pineapple on the side or has the word sunrise or sex or colada in the title. Is this a little loose? Yes. I’m literally face-palming myself. Let’s see if we can take it a different direction… Dog eats shoes. Gina gets sad. Dog takes a time out. Gina cleans up leathery pieces of chewed up flip flops. Gina gets hungry. She looks in the fridge. There’s a papaya. Sounds tropical. Sounds like something someone with flip flops would be wearing. Too soon? Yes. She goes for it anyways. She shoves a bunch of stuff in a blender. Smoothies help turn things around. It’s a rule. Gina guzzles drinks it down like a lady. It becomes a mini-flip-flop-less-vacation for her taste buds. We could all use one of those. Taste-bud vay-cay. Did I tie it together? You’re shaking your head aren’t you. Did you just skip right on down to the recipe once I started yammering on about prison and shower shoes? Yeah.

Basically, this smoothie is what happens when I want something fruity and slightly exotic but also healthy. You feel healthier knowing that you started your day off with a handful of kale, spinach and some chia seed voodoo. The Greek yogurt is optional, but I like the tanginess and it totally helps satiate you until lunch. You could use almond milk like me, or you could totally go the coconut milk route. Supes trops. And… once you have disgraced the English language by abbreviating “super tropical” I think you know it’s time to bow out. Yikes. This was rough.

Time to walk the guilty dog. She is running circles around me. Literally. It’s mental.

Hope you enjoy your smoothie. If you could pour one out for our fallen flip flop homies, that would be special. xo

Instructions

Scoop your papaya out with a spoon, separating the meat from the flesh.

Add the meat into the blender along with all of your other ingredients.

Blend on high until everything has come together and is smooth.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

by Gina Marie

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10 Comments

I am totally into that show too! Actually my initial thought when you said that you had no flip-flops to wear was to tell you to fashion a pair out of maxi pads and a rubber band. Haha! Anyways, the smoothie looks delectable as always and I really hope you get a new pair of flip flops soon because I cannot imagine being without mine.

OK, so I keep meaning to comment and say this, but I don’t know how I didn’t find my way to your site sooner! You are ADORABLE! I am so happy you have a blog and I am so excited to be following it. Also, you need flip flops. I bought a pair as soon as we moved to California this spring. Got a nice comfy pair from Vans and I love them. Finally, I want this smoothie in my belly. ASAP. So yummy!

Beth! Aw! Thank you so much. This made my day. So happy to have found your blog too! I adore it. I am also in love with all of your pretty screen prints. So cool! I totally need flip flops. Wearing socks and shoes in ninety degree heat is stupid. I am going to get an obnoxious sock tan. Not cool.

I hope you find some acceptable (read: cheap) flip flops to wear and flaunt while your dog goes through this stage of terrorizing your footwear. (Mine did this for about a year, and she’s moved on from that to chewing on the couch to being a relatively well-adjusted pet nowadays.)

Also, this smoothie sounds fabulous and like a perfect kind of tropical escape. Perhaps I can make this daily since it feels like I live in the tropics, except there is no beach and/or ocean anywhere to be seen. Hrm.

OMG, Erin. Up until the time she turned 1 she never chewed up a single pair of shoes. The week she turned 1 years old she totally chewed up three pairs. What the heck?!! She also has expensive taste. She only chews up the best and most loved shoes. She prefers leather. I know we are totally idiots for forgetting to put our shoes away… but we let down our guard for a second, and it is madness!!

Playing around in the kitchen today. Made this #grainfree #glutenfree trashed up version of @brewinghappines ‘s Pumpkin Chia Olive Oil Cake. I’m not mad at it. 👌🏻 @ Novato, California https://t.co/2gyTjYK1gg